APFFLON Writes Minister Oyetola, Calls for Urgent Reassessment of FreighForwarding Associations Under CRFFN
Otunba Frank Ogunojemite
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has issued an urgent appeal to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, calling for immediate intervention to prevent the collapse of ongoing reforms within Nigeria’s freight forwarding sector.
In a letter addressed to the Honourable Minister, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, President of APFFLON urged the Minister to direct the Registrar of the CRFFN, Mr Kingsley Igwe, to immediately undertake a comprehensive reassessment and revalidation of all freight forwarding associations in Nigeria.
“This reassessment is critical not only to restore order and professionalism but also to ensure that only credible associations continue to partner with the government in advancing the goals of the Marine and Blue Economy sector” he said
The APFFLON President highlighted that while the reformation initiatives championed through the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) have been a beacon of hope, recent developments threaten their sustainability.
Ogunojemite’s letter, dated July 22, 2025, points to lack of uniformity in compliance, poor ethical standards, weakening representation, and internal leadership crises within many of the registered freight forwarding associations as factors eroding public trust and destabilizing the regulatory goals of the Ministry and CRFFN.
Ogunojemite also called on the Minister to investigate the lack of transparency in the collection of the Practitioners Operating Fees (POF), urging the Minister to compel the consultant collecting the money; SW Global to disclose the amount so far collected.
Continuing, Ogunojemite said “Also as you have advocated during the National Single Window seminar at Mariot hotel on transparency and accountability. Please instruct Alhaji Nura Umar MD SW Global to make account of total POF been collected to your office and the CRFFN registrar
“Your timely directive in this regard will not only save the industry from impending collapse but will also preserve your administration’s legacy of transformative leadership and sectoral reform”
He warned that without timely intervention, the freight forwarding associations could inadvertently collapse the very reforms intended to strengthen the freight forwarding industry.
The proposed process of reassessment according to the association, should include; verifying compliance with CRFFN regulations and ethical standards; Auditing membership credibility and internal governance structures; Evaluating each association’s contribution to professional development and industry growth and Disbanding or restructuring associations found to be non-compliant or counterproductive to national objectives.
The association emphasized that this reassessment is crucial to restore order and professionalism and to ensure that only credible associations continue to partner with the government in advancing the goals of the Marine and Blue Economy sector.
